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2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(-No Model.)

' L. T. SOUTI-IWORTH, PAVING BLOCK CUTTING MACHINE.

No. 417,519. Patented Dec. 17, 1889'.

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2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

L. T. SOUTHWORTH. PAVING BLOCK CUTTING MACHINE.

Patented Dec. 17, 1889.

V. V H f O O B d 2 M 0 I pr 7 6. AI 7 J W HUI ,.C 0 B Q 0 J- 5 lhVElIKUY: LUTEYIZD T. illum'wv'urth N PETERS, mmuuw n mr. waihinglon. n. a

' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LORENZO T. SOUTHl/VORTH, OF EVART, MICHIGAN.

PAVl N e- BLOC K-CUTTI NG MACH IN E.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 417,519, dated December17, 1889. Application filed March 1, 1889. Serial No. 301,633. (Nomodel.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LORENZO T. SOUTH- WORTH, a .citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Evart, in the county of Osceola and State ofMichigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inPaving-Block- Outting Machines, of which the following is aspecification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in machines fortrimming paving-blocks for wooden pavements, the primary object of myinvention being to remove the bark and to utilize as much as possiblesuch paving-blocks as are now rejected on account of not being withinthe specification as regards the size, shape, or soundness of theblocks.

The wood-paving specifications mostly in vogue specify the diameter ofthe round blocks as generally used not to be above a certain figuresaytwelve inchesand larger blocks are therefore thrown out. The same is thecase with blocks having certain defects, such as too much sap on theoutside, a rotten core, or too irregnlarshape. By a judiciousmanipulation in trimming a large number of these paving-blocks can beworked up to make good blocksas, for instance, the large-sized blockscan be reduced in size, if otherwise good, making the largest allowablesize of them; or, if such large blocks should be rotten in the center,they may be divided and then the sections trimmed to form smallerblocks; or, if the blocks are rotten or have too much sap on theoutside, they may be trimmed around the periphery to form ground-blocksAnother proviso generally found in specifications is that there shall beno bark adhering to the outside of the blocks. As the peeling of thetimber is often very difficult, I propose to cut the blocks withoutremoving the bark and then trim them just enough on the outside toremove the bark. This .is more expeditious and makes better blocks. I

A further objectof my invention is to make larger-sized timber availablefor pavingblocks by merely trimming them down to the size or by dividingthem into sections and trimming the same around.

To this end my invention consists in the peculiar construction,arrangement, and combination of circular or polygonal dies of graduatedsizes with reciprocating followers, by means of which the blocks to betrimmed are forced into the dies, and in combining such devices with anautomatic feeding device for the blocks, all as more fully hereinafterdescribed, and shown in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l isa sectional plan view showing the relative arrangement of the dies andfollowers. Fig.2 is a plan view on a larger scale with the feed-troughspartly broken away, so as to disclose the oscillating feedshafts nearthe bottom of the feed-troughs. Fig. 3 is a vertical centralcross-section 011 line X X in Fig. 2. Fig. 4c is a cross-section on lineY Y in Fig. 2, and Fig. 5 is a crosssection on line Z Z in Fig. 2.

A are parallel bed-timbers connected by suitable cross-timbers A to forma support-- ing-frame for the operating parts of the machine.

B is a main shaft journaled transversely 7 circular heads G andwrist-pins H, which engage into the grooves of the cams, respectively.The shanks of the followers are provided with the slots 1, through whichthe shaft B passes to guide the rear ends of the followers, while thefront end of the followers is supported and guided in suitable boxes J.

K, K, K and K are cylindrical or polygonal dies, secured in axial linewith the followers against a strong abutment of the bedframe. The diesfor the different followers are graduated, the die K being the smallestand the die K being the largest. The head of each follower and itsrespective die are located in a well L, formed between the timbers ofthe bed-frame, and on the bottom of said well is secured a bearing M,suitably curved upon its upper side to form a rest for the paving-block,so as to present it endwise to the die and to the head of the follower.

Communicating with each well are inclined troughs None for each wellandwhich are suitably inclined and large enough to form a rollway for theblocks to be subjected to the operation of the machine. 011 the bottomside, near the lower end of each rollway, is journaled a feedshaft O,whichis provided within the rollway with the two sets of arms P and P.This shaft is provided upon one side with a crank-disk Q, to which apitman R is pivotally secured. The lower end of this pitman is pivotallysecured to a vibrating lever S, which is fulcrumed at a. This lever S isactuated intermittently by means of the tappet-arm T, which ispreferably formed integral with the cams E, and which isadapted with itsfree end I) to strike during the revolution of the cam against the freeend 0 of the lever S, and thereby depress it suiticiently to oscillatethe feed-shaft 0 about a quarter of a revolution.

U is a retracting-weight connected to the chain V, which passes over apulley V and is secured with its free end directly to the most distantcrank-disk Q and indirectly through the medium of the chains V to allthe intermediate crank-disks. Upon each of the oscillating feed-shafts Ois also secured a suitable retracting-spring V. Each rollway is furtherprovided with a shaft (1, journaled near the top side of each rollwayand provided with the stopd, adapted to project into the rollway, andthe free end of this shaft is provided with the crank (1 which isconnected by means of a rope or chain (1 to the crankdisk Q.

In practice, the parts being constructed and arranged as shown anddescribed, they are intended to operate as follows: The shaft B iscontinuously revolved by suitable power, and thereby, through the mediumof the cams E, the followers are reciprocated from or toward the dies.\Vhen fully retracted, the space between the head of the follower andits opposite die is sufficient to admit a paving-block, and when fullyprojected the head is in close proximity to the cutting-edge of the die.The cams E are so set upon the shaft B in relation to each other thatthe followers operate at succeeding and like intervals for the purposeof distributing the power required to trim the blocks. By examining theconfiguration of the cam E, as shown in Fig. 3, it will be seen that atthe point of its greatest retraction the wrist-pin of the follower is inthe most concentric portion of the cam, and as the cam turns in thedirection of the arrow it will be seen that the follower is projected atits slowest speed, but with its greatest power; but gradually the speedof the follower increases and becomes fastest toward the end of thestroke, and then it is quickly reversed again, fastest at the beginning,and gradually slower until it is fully reversed. To aid the follower atthe point of reversal, where the cam is very abrupt, a spring 0 may besecured at the free end of each follower to act by its tension. Fromthis action of each follower it will be seen that if a block is insertedbetween the head of the follower and its respective die, so as topresent its flat ends thereto respectively, the block, if larger thanthe die, will be pressed with great force at first against the die, andthen will be rapidly forced into it, causing it to be trimmed allaround, and then the follower will quickly withdraw, rcmainin gpractically ata standstill for a short time to ail'ord an opportunityfora new block to fall into place. The supports of the blocks to betrimmed are adjusted in such relative positions to the dies andfollowers as to center each block in relation to the die, providin g theblock has been presented to the proper die. The blocks trimmed by thedies force each other out through the open end of the dies and may fallonto a carrier which deposits them away from the machine, and the wastefrom the trimming falls through the open bottom of the well and may besimilarly removed to be used as fuel or otherwise. The automatic feedwhich I combine with this device is actuated at the proper time by thetappet-arm T of each cam. At the time when the follower is completelyreversed, or nearly so, the tappet strikes the free end 0 of the leverS, thereby imparting an oscillating motion to the shaft 0 through themedium of the pitman R and crankdisk Q.

If blocks to be trimmed are in the rollways, as shown in Fig. 4, thelowest one rests against the arms P during the normal position of thefeed-shaft. As soon as the feedshaftbegins to oscillate, this arm movesinto the position shown in the uppermost rollway in Fig. 4. In thisposition the block is free to fall into the well between the die andfollower, and enough time is provided to allow it to do so and resume aquiescent position before the follower takes hold of it. The remainingblocks in the rollway are prevented from falling out by the arm (1 onthe shaft (1, which is simultaneously projected into the path of theblocks in the rollway bymeans of its connection with the crank-disk Q.

As soon as the feed-shaft O is operated to release one of the blocks itis moved back to its position again, while the arm d simultaneouslytherewith is released to allow the blocks in the rollway to be broughtdown against the feed-arm. To make the passage from the rollway into thewell smooth and unobstructed, I secure a curved guide f to form theconnection between the well and rollway. The weight of the blocks in therollwayis prevented from actuating the feedshafts by theretracting-springs ',which are under sufficient tension to resist it. In0011- nection with this provision the incline of the rollways isprovided with the direct view of limiting or reducing the weight of theblocks to act with just enough force to allow them to gently slide downthe rollway whenever they are free to do so.

The retracting-weight U is for the purpose of retracting the levers totheir normal posi- 417,519 r I I 3 tion, in which position they arearrested against suitable stops, such as the under side of the follower,as shown in Fig. 5.

The operator having in his mind the different sizes of the dies willreadily be able to judiciously feed the blocks into the open ends of therollways to bring them to the proper cutters for trimming.

By meang of my machine I am enabled to do the work in a very expeditiousmanner, as it will be seen that the parts are all automatic.

I do not intend to confine myself to any number of dies, as the same maybe more or less, as practical considerations may dictate, withoutaltering the spirit of my invention.

Without an automatic feed a' machine of this kind would not only beimpracticable but dangerous on account of the eminent danger of maimingan operator, who would be obliged to present the blocks byhand, andtherefore I claim that the combination of the automatic feed with mydevice is of great practical value. The other movable parts of themachine are suitably covered, so as to exclude all danger of accidents.

By means of the grooved cams I am e11- abled to work the machine at highspeed, and at the same time give the necessary time for allowing theblocks to fall into place between the follower and die, as the machinedefers all motion at this instant.

shaft, the dies, the inclined rollways, the

feed-shafts in the rollways, and the vibrating lever and connectionsoperating the feedshaft, substantially as described.

2. In a block-cutting nachine, the combination of the cams havingtappet-arms, of

the vibrating levers operated by said arms, the pitmen connected to thevibrating levers, and the feed-shafts connected to the pitmen andoperated thereby, substantially as described.

3. The combination of the following elements: thehorizontally-reciprocating followvers, the fixed graduated dies, thecenteringrests, the inclined rollways communicating therewith, and theoscillating feed-shafts provided with the two sets of arms,substantially as described.

4. In a block-cutting machine, the combination of the driving-shaft, thecams having the tappet-arms, the followers having slots to receive thedriving-shaft, the dies, the rollways above the dies, the feed-shafts inthe rollways, the pitmen connected to the feedshafts, and the vibratinglevers connected to the pitmen and adapted to be operated by thetappet-armsof the cams, substantially as described.

5. In a block-cutting machine, the frame having the wells, thedriving-shaft mounted I having two sets of arms, the crank-disks andretracting-springs on the feed-shafts, the pitmen connected to thecrank-disks, and the vibrating levers connected to the pitmen andadapted to be operated by the tappet-arms on the cam, substantially asdescribed.

6. In a paving-block machine, the combination, with a frame A, of thegrooved cam E, provided with a tappet T, the reciprocating follower F, afixed die K, the centeringrest M, the Well L, in which thecentering-rest and die are located, the inclined rollway N,communicating therewith, the lever S, the oscillating feed-shaft 0,provided with the arms P and P, and the stop d, substantially asdescribed.

7. In a paving-block machine, substantially as described, thecombination, with the shaft 0, the cams E, and means for operating thefeed-shafts, of the inclined rollways N, the feed-shafts 0, providedwith the arms P and P, the crank-disks Q, the levers S, pitmen R, theretracting-weight U, the idler V, the chains V and V .and theretracting-springs W, all combined to operate substantially asdescribed.

8. In a paving-block-cutting machine, the combination, with the driving-shaft and cams, of the followers having pins traveling in the cams,slots to receive the driving-shaft, and the springs connected to thefollowers, substantially as and for the purpose described.

9. In a paving-block-cutting machine, the combination of the framehaving the wells, the supports or bearing-blocks therein, the inclinedrollways communicating With the Wells, the feed-shafts in said rollways,the stops in the rollways above the feed-shafts, the vibrating levers,pit-men and tappet-arms for operating the feed-shafts and stops, and theguides in the rollways for guiding the blocks to the supports orbearing-blocks, substantially as described.

10. In a paving-block-cutting machine, the combination of the frame, theinclined roll- Ways, the driving-shaft, the cams on the driving-shafthaving the tappet-arms,the followers operated by the cams, the vibratinglevers adapted to be struck by said arm, the pitmen connected to thevibrating levers, the crank-disks connected to the pitmen, thefeedshafts, and'the shafts having the stops connected to 'and operatedby the crank-disks, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affiX my signature,

in presence of two witnesses, this 22d day of January, 1889.

I LORENZO T. SOUTHWORTH.

WVitnesses:

J. PAUL MAYER, A. B. EATON.

